Sound Effects Replacement

OpenSFX is a free replacement of the base sounds for OpenTTD, so that OpenTTD can be played without requiring the (copyrighted) files from the TTD CD. This potentially increases the OpenTTD fanbase and makes it a true free game.

Downloading OpenSFX

OpenSFX is available from at least three locations. This readme will only cover the official download locations. We cannot support third party download locations and we cannot refund your money if you have paid money for OpenSFX.

Getting a Stable Release

There's two places where you can get the latest stable release:

If you're new to OpenTTD and don't have access to the original TTD files, you'll have to download and install OpenSFX manually. This is really not that difficult as it may sound, so don't worry too much about that.

Getting a Nightly Build

Just like OpenTTD, there are nightly builds of OpenSFX available as well. Every evening around 18:18 CEST a new build of OpenSFX is created automatically (if there's something new that is). Unlike stable releases these builds aren't tested to see if they work, but if a nightly doesn't work, it doesn't break anything either. Keep a stable or working nightly sitting in the /data dir and just delete a broken nightly to get OpenSFX working again.

2. Find the OpenSFX entry from the list at the left. You can use the search box in the upper right corner of the window.

3. Click the little square in front of the OpenSFX entry in order to mark it for download.

4. Click the Download button in the bottom right corner. After download, close the open windows.

5. In the main menu of the game, click the Game Options button. The Game Options dialog will appear.

6. Select OpenSFX from the drop-down list below Base Sounds set if that's not selected already (bottom left of window). Close the window using the × in the upper left corner.

This is where you can switch base sound sets.

Technical and licensing details

Sounds should be uploaded as 44,100Hz, 16-bit mono WAV or FLAC files. There will be a new sound file format developed for OpenTTD, likely using .tar files in a manner similar to that of the new sounds. Until then, tools will be made available to enable work to go on using the existing sample.cat format.

For ensuring that resulting sample.cat (or tar) file may be distributed freely with OpenTTD code all sound files must have some of free license. Appropriate are Public domain or the Sampling Plus license. Other licenses (like for example Creative Commons -sa -nd -nc or its combinations) are more problematic. If sourcing sound effects from free libraries online, please ensure they are licenced under Public domain or the Sampling Plus 1.0 license.